Sprinkler having projectable nozzle



April 3, 1930 w. yAN E. THMPsoN 1,753,841

`SPRINKLER HAVING PROJ ECTABLE NOZZLE TTORNEY.

April 8, 1930- .l w. VAN E. THOMPSON 1,753,841

SPRINKLER HAVING PROJECTABLE NOZZLE Filed May 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3y .itatented Apr. 8, 1930 WALTER VAN E. THOMPSN, OF LOS ANGELES,CLIFURNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMPSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA., A CORPORATIN OF CALIFRNI SPRINKLER HAVING PRJECTABLE NOZZLEApplication led May 25,

t@ cealed position below the surface of the ground. When the sprinkleris brought into operation, the nozzle is automatically projected to aosition above the surface ofthe ground so t atit may spray water over antt adjacent area.

1t is another object of my invention to provide a sprinkler of thischaracter having a n novel means by reason ot which the nozzle isprojected when water is supplied thereto.

lt is another object of my invention to provide a sprinkler of thischaracter having a rotating nozzle. By such arrangement a circular areaof considerable size may be irrigated by my sprinkler. The nozzle of mysprinkler may have a pair of jets or water passages, one of which isarranged to irrigate an outer annular area, and the other of which isarranged to irrigate the inner circular area. By providing only twostreams which rotate it is possible to have considerable pressure sothat the radius of the outer stream may be considerable and will besomewhat longer than other sprinklers employing a greater number ofradially extending jets.

lt .is a further object of my invention to provide a novel means forrotating the nozzle.

lt is also an object of my invention to provide a novel gear reductionunit which Ais situated between the driving means and the nozzle.whereby the rotation of the nozzle mav be greatly diminished relativelyto the driving means so that the radius of the streams owing from thenozzle will not be reduced due to whipping action which occurs when anozzle is rotated at an appreciable speed.

lt is a still further object of my invention to provide a sprinklerhaving a unique assembly which permits an easy removing and member 16.Supported on theupper face of 1925. Serial No. 32,621.

adjustment of various departments thereof. @ther objects and advantagesof my invention will be made manifest hereinafter.

Referring to the three sheets of drawings` in which I illustrate apreferred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a use of my I invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a sprinkler embodying thefeatures of my invention.

F ig. 3 is a plan view of the sprinkler of my invention with the casingthereof removed.

t is a section taken on the line 4-4 of 1g. lP Fig. 5 is a section takenon the line 5-5 of F Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig..7 isl a' fragmentary detail of the driving means of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a. bottom lan view of a rotor of the driving means o myinvention.

As shown in Fig. 1, my invention rovides a sprinkler 11 which issurrounded y a casing 12 and'which issituated below the surtace of theground 13. As shown `clearly in Fig. 2, the sprinkler 11 comprises ashell provided in the form of a cylindrical member 16 having a bottomplug 17 which screws into the lower end thereof and a cap 18 whichscrews into the upper end thereof. A supply pipe 20 is threaded into theplug 17 at 21 and is adapted to supply water into the shell. Astrainer23 having a multiplicity of openings 24 rests on a face 25 ofthe plug 17. Placed above .the strainer .23 is a sleeve 28 which titssnugly within the cylindrical the sleeve 28 is an impeller plate 29. Asclearly shown in Figs. 2, 6 and the impeller plate 29 has a series otsemi-cylindrical depressions 30 which provide water passages 31. Thesewater passages are so shaped that water flowing therethrough takes adirection indicated byan arrow 33 of Fig. 7. A cylindrical spacer 38which tits snugly in the cylindrical member 16 is impeller plate 29.v

placed .above the l. wg

i viding a rotor chamber 43 between itself and the impeller plate 29.The cup member 42 provides a radial wall 44 and a cylindrical wall 45which extends upwardly from the radial wall 44, this radial wall 44being somewhat smaller in diameter than the inside of the cylindricalmember 16. An annular shoulder 50 of a cover 51 extends inside the upperend of the cylindrical wall 45 of the cup member 42, the upper end'ofthe wall 45 engaging an inner part of a flange 53 of the cover 51. Lugs55, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, are provided for strengthening thecylindrical wall 45 and for receiving screws 56 which clamp the cover 51to the cup member 42.

Extending through a hub 57 which extends from the radial wall 44 is arotor shaft 58. The lower end of the rotor shaft 58 is secured to a web59 of a rotor 60 located in the rotor chamber 43. The web 59 is of theshape shown clearly in Figs. 2, 7 and 8 having a conical portion 63.Extending downwardly from the outer annular radial portion 64 are vanes65 which extend tangentially as clearly shown in Fie. 8.

On the end of? the rotor shaft 58 extending inside the gear unit box isa gear which drives a gear 71 journaled on a countershaft 72 which isparallel to the rotor shaft 58 and is secured in place between theradial wall 44 and the cover 51. A gear 73 formed integral with the gear71 rotates a gear 74 loosely mounted on the lower end of a drive-shaft 75. The drive-shaft 75 has a bearing sleeve 76 pinned to the lower endthereof into which the upper end ofA the rotor shaft 58 extends and inwhich it journals. A gear formed integral with the gear 74 rotatestherewith and imparts rotation to a gear 81 rotatably carried on asecond countershaft 82 which is supported between the radial wall 44 andthe cover 51.` Formed integral with this gear 81 is a gear 83 whichdrives a gear 85 loosely carried on the drive-shaft 75. The integralgears 81 and 83 are retained in position by a pair of spacers 86. Formedintegral with the gear 85 is a gear 88 which drives a gear 89 rotatablycarried on the first countershaft 72 and retained in place by a spacer90. A gear 91 integral with the gear 89 rotates a gear 94 which ispinned on the drive-shaft 75 below the cover 51. The shaft 75 extendsthrough a hub 99 of the cover 51 and has a Maasai having heads 107 bywhich they may be advanced to clamp the parts tightly inside the shell.

A sleeve 110 is threadably secured at 111 to a flange 112 of the head 18of the shell. `A tube portion 113 of a nozzle plunger 114 extendsthrough cylindrical opening 115 of the sleeve 110. A head 116 is formedat the lower end of the tube 113, this head having a shoulder 117 whichengages a face 118 of the sleeve 110 when the nozzle plunger is in itsuppermost position. A diametrical slot 120 is formed in the head 116into which slot the tongue 101 extends. A nozzle 122 is secured at theupper end of the tube 115 having openings 123 and 124 for the sprayingof water.

VJ hen the sprinkler is `-.ituated in position for use, the casing 12 isextended therearound so that a cylindrical wall thereof surrounds theshell and an annular face 131 thereof engages an upper face of the head18. The casing has an upper radial wall 132 having an opening 133therein through which the nozzle 122 is extended into sprinklingposition. y

Vhen water is supplied to a sprinkler of my invention, it passes intothe shell through the pipe 20. This water is preferably very carefullystrained before it is given to the sprinkler system. It is againstrained by the strainer 23 before it passes through the mechanism ofthe "sprinken The water passes through the passages 31 of the impellerplate 29, the water passing in a direction as indicated by the arrow 33of Fig. 7, the water having a twirling motion. The water catches thevanes 65 of the rotor 62 and the rotor is thereby revolved. Thisrevolves the rotor shaft 58 which rotates the gear 70. This rotation istransferred through the chain of gears 71, 73, 74, 80, 81` 83, 85, 88,89, 91 and 94, thus rotating the drive-shaft 75. It will be noted fromFigs. 2 and 4 that this chain of gears serves to reduce the speed of thedrive-shaft 75 relative to the rotation of the rotor 60. The reductionof these gears in actual practice is about 250 to 1. The drive member100 is rotated with the drive-shaft 75 and the tongue 101 thereofrotates the nozzle plunger 114 due to its engagement with the side wallof the slot 120.

During this time water Hows through openings in the flange 41 andupwardly around the cylindrical wall 45 of the cup member 42. The waterthen passes through openings 141 in the iange 53 and into a chamber 144above the reduction gear unit. The water fills the chamber 144 and thenflows through a passage 145 of the nozzle plunger 114 and it is thenforced through the openings 123 and 124 of the nozzle 122. As thepressure builds in the chamber 114, a force is exerted against the head116 of the nozzle plunger 114 which serves to project amasar jectedposition, the nozzle is in the open and there is no interference to thestreams of water owing through the openings 123 and From the descriptionit should be noted that the nozzle plungerV 11d is projected only whenwater is supplied to the sprinkler 11 and that I, at all other times thenozzle 122 rests in concealed position inside the casing 12 and belowthe surface of the ground. When the nozzle plunger and nozzle are inprojected position, the pressure of the shoulder 117 en'- gages the face118 of the sleevell() and preother conditions.

vents leakage, The driving means of my invention does notl in any wayadect the elll- 'ciency of the sprinkler and is very suitable in thisuse. 'lhe feature of rotating the nozzle vat a very slow rate of speedis quitel desirable as\ it eliminates whipping of the streams of waterwhich would reduce the rradii of the streams and consequently reduce thesprinkling area of. the sprinkler. f

ln the device shown the gear reduction between the rotor and the nozzleplunger 1141 is about 250 to l and the nozzle plunger will rotate at oneor two revolutions per minute according to the pressure of the water anda suitable lubricant.

lhe reduction gear unit box is in communication with the interior of theshell -only along the shaits 75 and 58, respectively, which arejournaled in bearing openings in the upper and lower ends, respectively,of the box. As

the water passing through the sprinkler is at substantially the samepressureat all points within the shell, it is readily seen that abalanced pressure is produced at the only two places where water mighttend lto enter the reduction gear unit box, or lubricant might tend toescape. into the water chambers-and the intrusion of either fluid intothe chamber occupied by the other is edectively prevented.

ll claim as my invention:

1. lln a sprinkler, the combination oi: a

shell; means for supplying water to said shell; an impeller platecarried in said shell; a rotor arranged adjacent to said impeller .fplate; a rotor shaft carrying said rotor; `a

drive-shaft; gear mechanism connecting said rotor shaft with saiddrive-shaft; a drive member carried by said drive-shaft; and aprojectable nozzle plunger carried by said shell, said nozzle plungerbeing driven by said drive member, but being axially movable relativethereto.

2. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell, a nozzle plungerprojectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted toremain in projected position when sprinkling and-in retracted positionwhen idle; means for supplying water to said shell,

said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said water; a rotorin said shell adapted to be operated by said water as it Hows throughsaid shell to the nozzle plunger, and reduction ratio transmission meansconnecting said rotor with said nozzle plunger for rota-ting` saidnozzle plunger..

3. 1n a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger projectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted toremain in'projected position when sprinkling and to automatically return-to retracted position when idle; means `for supplying water to saidshell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said water;a rotor in said shelladapted to be operated by said water as it Howsthrough said shell to the j nozzle plunger; and reduction ratiotransmission means connecting said rotor with said nozzle plunger forrotating saidv nozzle plunger.

4. ln a sprinkler, the combination oi: a. shell; a nozzle plungerprojectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted toremain 'in projected position when sprinkling and to automaticallyreturn to rem tracted position when idle; means for supplying water tosaid shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by saidwater; a rotor in said shell loperated by said water as it flows throughsaid shell to the nozzle plunger and independently of the direction ofliow of said water from said nozzle plunger,

and reduction ratio transmission means connecting said rotor with saidnozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger.

5.. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plungerprojectably carried by said shell; means for supplying water to saidshell, said nozzle plunger being adapted'to be projected by said\water;a rotor in said shell adapted to be operatedby said water as it Howsthrough said shell to the nozzle plunger; and means connecting saidrotor to said nozzle plunger. j,

6. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carriedby said shell means :tor supplying water to said shellsaid nozzleplunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotoradapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor tosaid nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger; a box enclosingsaid last named means, said box having bearing openings communicatingwith the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, saidbearing openings being so located that Water pressure in said shell Willbe balanced at said openings thus preventing intrusion of Water intosaid box.

7. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carriedby said shell; means for supplying water to said shell, said nozzleplunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotoradapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor tosaid nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger, said meansincluding shafts a box enclosing said lastnamedmeans, said box havingbearing openings in Which said shafts operate and throu h which theyextend into said shell; and alu ricant in said box, said bearingopenings being subjected to a substantially balanced water pressurewhereby said lubricant is retained in said box, and intrusion of Wateris prevented.

8. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carriedby said shell; means for supplying Water to said shell, said nozzleplunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotoradapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor tosaid nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger; a box enclosingsaid last named means, said box having bearing openings communicatingWith the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, said boxbeing so located that the Water pressure in said shell will besubstantialy equal on all sides thereof so that said lubricant will notbe expelled. from said box.

9. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle carried by saidshell; means for supplying Water to said shell; a driving rotor adaptedto be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzlefor rotating said nozzle; a box enclosing said last named means, saidbox having openings communicating with the interior of said shell; and alubricant in said box, said box being so located that the Water pressureat said openings Will be substantially equal so that said lubricant Willnot be expelled from said box.

10. In a sprinkler. the combination of: aA

shell; a nozzle carried by said shell; means for supplying Water to saidshell; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; meansconnecting said rotor to said nozzle for rotating said nozzle; a boxenclosing said last named means, said box having openings communicatingwith the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, saidopenings being so located that Water pressure in said shell will bebalanced at said openings thus preventing intrusion of Water into saidbox.

11. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle carried bysaid shell; means for supplying Water to said shell; a driving rotoradapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor tosaid nozzle for rotating said nozzle, said means including shafts; a boxenclosing said last named means, said box having openings in which saidshafts operate and throu h Which they extend into said shell; and a luricant in said box, said box being so located that the Water pressure atsaid openings will be substantially e ual so that said lubricant willnot be expelle from saidjbox.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 18th day of May, 1925.

WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON.

nrnrittnnrt 'ott I oonnnorton.

noon no. Lmstr. t i @ramt non o, teso, to

wntrnn VAN n. rttottrson.

4is hereby certiiied that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, linel2?, claim 5, aiter tile Word "piunger and before the period insert thewords "for rotating said nozzic piunger"; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the Vcaso in the Patent i. v

Signed and sealed this t3th day oi May, A. D. 3930.

Y M. J. Moore, (Soni) Acting Commissioner ot Patents.

